Site Manager

I was an Undergraduate at Croudace Homes in 2011 as a Materials Buyer, and thoroughly enjoyed my 12 month work placement, which gave me plenty of experience in the construction industry and of the work culture at Croudace. I enjoyed my time and learned so much, that I wanted to stay and pursue my career ambitions here at Croudace.

I am a Site Manager for Croudace Homes and I Manage projects from start to finish. This spans from an initial period of project planning in our head office to handing over a set of keys to the customer. I am responsible for the health and safety of everyone who comes to visit or work on my projects. As the Site Manager it is my responsibility to write and implement the project programme to ensure that it finishes on time and within budget and that we deliver, as a team, a high quality finish for our perspective customers.

During my time at Croudace I have had several highlights including managing 3 projects that have been nominated for industry awards. In 2018 I won an award for best development in London and received an NHBC Pride in The Job award. In 2017 after gaining several years of on-site experience and completing the necessary assessments I was granted membership to the Charted Institute of Builders. The most rewarding part of this role is being able to stand back at the end of a project and appreciate what has been achieved and handing the keys over to a new home to a customer.

No two projects are the same with each bringing their own separate and unique challenges. This includes the layout and topography of a site, local planning requirements and restrictions, technical details and methods of construction. On my current project I am overseeing the construction of a block of apartments on a confined site that incorporates three forms of construction, steel frame, traditional and timber frame. Managing the interfaces between these different forms of construction has produced both technical and logistical challenges. To overcome the challenges I adopted a collaborative approach, building a team across several subcontractors’ right from the design stage through to implementation on site. This helped to identify and rectify several obstacles prior to work commencing on site and has ensured that this phase of the project has been delivered efficiently.

During my time at Croudace I have been able to develop my management skills and increase my technical knowledge. Croudace have provided me with the training and resources to develop my management skills which has been essential in managing a diverse range of personalities in challenging conditions. I have learnt to plan and organise my projects, looking beyond days and weeks ahead with activities and materials planned months in advance.

I would advise any students to listen to and observe there more experienced colleagues. They will have valuable knowledge that can’t be taught in a classroom. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don’t understand and be prepared to take on responsibilities early in your career. Show a willingness to get involved and offer help and assistance where you. Construction and particularly on-site construction can be a very diverse and challenging environment to work in that requires you to be adaptable. Be prepared to work hard.